Short, plain notes on looking after yourself through your cycle. No ads, and you don't have to sign in to read them.
No. 1
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious illness that has been linked to tampon use. It is uncommon, and there are simple ways to lower your risk.
Know the signs
A sudden fever, about 102°F or higher
Vomiting or diarrhea
Feeling dizzy, or fainting or nearly fainting when you stand up
A rash that looks like a sunburn
If you notice any of these during or just after your period, take the tampon out and get medical help right away.
Lower your risk
Use the lowest absorbency that works for your flow. If one tampon lasts a full 8 hours without needing a change, try a lighter one.
Change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours, and never wear one for more than 8 hours.
Use tampons only during your period.
Talk with your doctor about whether tampons are right for you, especially if you have had TSS before.
This note follows guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: The Facts on Tampons, and How to Use Them Safely. It is general information, not medical advice. If something feels wrong, call your doctor.
No. 2
Getting blood out
It happens to everyone, and most of it comes out. The trick is cold water, and doing it before the stain dries or goes near heat.
Fresh stains
Rinse the spot under cold running water, from the back of the fabric so the blood is pushed out, not in.
Rub a little soap or laundry detergent into it with your fingers, then rinse again.
Never use hot water. Heat cooks the blood into the fabric and sets the stain.
When cold water isn't enough
Dab on a little hydrogen peroxide (the 3% kind from the first-aid aisle). It fizzes as it lifts the blood. Blot, then rinse with cold water.
Peroxide can lighten colored fabric, so test it on a hidden spot first, and skip it on silk and wool.
For a dried stain, soak it in cold water for half an hour first, then try the steps above.
Check it's gone before it goes in the dryer. The dryer's heat sets whatever is left.
General laundry advice. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
No. 3
Your first period: what's normal
About once a month, the lining inside your uterus builds up. When your body doesn't need it, it leaves through your vagina. That's the blood. It lasts a few days, stops, and comes back a few weeks later.
When it starts
Most people get their first period around 12 or 13. A little earlier or later is normal too.
It usually comes two to three years after breasts start to grow.
The first years are messy
A period usually lasts 2 to 7 days. The first few can be very light, sometimes just spotting.
The time from the start of one period to the start of the next is usually 21 to 45 days in the teen years.
Periods can come months apart, close together, or stop for a while and start again. It can take years to settle into a pattern.
Blood that's brown or dark, cramps, feeling tired, and some days heavier than others are all common.
None of this means anything is wrong. If something worries you, say it out loud to an adult you trust or a doctor. See No. 8 for the signs worth checking.
Follows the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Your First Period. General information, not medical advice.
No. 4
Pads and liners: how and when
A pad sticks into your underwear and soaks up the blood. A liner is a thinner version for the lightest days.
Using a pad
Peel the paper off the back.
Press it into your underwear, sticky side down.
Fold the wings under the sides and press.
Change it every 4 to 6 hours, or sooner if it feels full or wet.
What each one is for
Pads: everyday period days.
Overnight pads: longer at the back, for sleeping.
Liners: light days, the last day, or when you think it might start soon.
Throwing it away
Roll the used one up in the new one's wrapper, or in toilet paper, and put it in the trash.
Never flush a pad or a liner. It blocks pipes.
Follows the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Your First Period, which says to change a pad at least every 4 to 8 hours. General information, not medical advice.
No. 5
Which size is my flow?
Nobody measures their flow. A rough idea is enough, and if your periods change, email us and we'll switch your box.
A rough guide
Light: a pad lasts the full 4 to 6 hours without filling up, and the period lasts only a few days.
Medium: on your heaviest days, a pad is full after a few hours.
Heavy: on your heaviest days you change every 2 to 3 hours, or you reach for overnight pads during the day.
Soaking through a pad every 1 to 2 hours, or bleeding for more than 7 days, isn't a size question. Talk to a doctor.
Our boxes
Light: 14 pads and 12 liners.
Medium: 24 pads and 15 liners.
Heavy: 36 pads and 20 liners.
Not sure? The size finder asks how heavy and how long, and suggests one.
The doctor signs follow the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Your First Period. General information, not medical advice.
No. 6
Cramps
Cramps are the muscles of the uterus tightening. They're common, usually worst on the first day or two, and they pass.
What helps
Warmth on your belly or lower back: a heating pad, a heat wrap, or a warm bath.
Moving around. A walk or some stretching helps more than you'd expect.
Eating something, drinking water, and sleeping if you can.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen help many people. Check with a parent, a doctor or a pharmacist first, and follow the label.
When it isn't normal
The pain keeps you from school, work or normal things.
It doesn't ease with the steps above.
Either one is worth a doctor's visit. Painful periods can be treated, and you don't have to just get through them.
Follows the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Your First Period and Painful Periods. General information, not medical advice.
No. 7
The backpack kit
A small pouch in your bag turns a surprise into a two-minute fix. Pack it now, not on the day.
What goes in
Two or three pads, and a couple of liners.
A spare pair of underwear, folded small.
A small plastic bag, for anything that needs to come home.
Anything else you like to have: a hair tie, lip balm, a snack.
If it starts and you have nothing
Fold toilet paper into a thick pad as a stopgap.
Ask the school nurse or the office. They keep supplies, and it's a normal thing to ask for.
Worried about a leak? Tie a sweatshirt around your waist and head to the bathroom.
Restock the pouch when you get home, so it's ready next time.
Practical advice, not medical advice.
No. 8
When to see a doctor
Most period worries turn out to be normal. These are the ones worth getting checked, and a doctor won't think you're making a fuss.
Go right away if
You feel light-headed or dizzy, or your heart is racing, while you're bleeding.
You have signs of toxic shock syndrome while using a tampon (see No. 1).
Make an appointment if
You need a new pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours.
Your period lasts more than 7 days.
Periods come more often than every 21 days, or less often than every 45.
You haven't had a period by age 15.
Your periods started, then stopped for more than 3 months.
Your periods were regular, then became irregular for several months.
Cramps or other symptoms don't ease with treatment, or keep you from school or normal activities.
If you've had sex and missed a period, take a pregnancy test. For anything else that worries you, ask. That's what doctors are for.
Follows the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Your First Period. General information, not medical advice.
No. 9
How we time your box
Your box is timed to your cycle, not to a calendar date. That's why we ask four questions when you order.
The four questions
When did your last period start? This is day 1 of your cycle.
How long is your cycle? Count from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Not sure? Say 28. Many people are near it, and you can change it later.
How heavy is it, generally? This sets how much goes in the box.
How many days does it last? Together with how heavy it is, this sets your size.
What we do with the answers
We work out roughly when your next period is due, and ship about ten days before, so the box gets there first.
One box a month, with the ship date moving to match you. A shorter cycle means more periods in a year, so those boxes carry more.
Cycles shift, especially in the teen years. If yours moves, email contact@fortunecoochi.com and we'll move your next box.
Your answers are used only to time and size your box. None of it is a medical question.
